I'm a Fellow at the Adam Smith Institute in London, a writer here and there on this and that and strangely, one of the global experts on the metal scandium, one of the rare earths. An odd thing to be but someone does have to be such and in this flavour of our universe I am. I have written for The Times, Daily Telegraph, Express, Independent, City AM, Wall Street Journal, Philadelphia Inquirer and online for the ASI, IEA, Social Affairs Unit, Spectator, The Guardian, The Register and Techcentralstation. I've also ghosted pieces for several UK politicians in many of the UK papers, including the Daily Sport.

Links 31 Aug: Samsung Beats Apple In Court, Apple Sues Samsung Again

These foreigners can be ever so insubordinate. Samsung has just won a patent case against Apple in Japan:

Apple Inc. lost a patent lawsuit in Japan as a Tokyo judge ruled that Samsung Electronics Co. (005930) smartphones and a tablet computer didn’t infringe on an Apple invention for synchronizing music and video data with servers.

When South Korean courts ruled on a slightly different matter, both Samsung and Apple were found in breach of each others’ patents. Japan sides with Samsung here, Australia and the UK largely with Samsung. Why there are even some who mutter that the US case so recently decided was influenced by a home court advantage. It could be that the general outcome of all these cases is a fragmentation of the global marketplace: with all the losses through inefficiency that would bring.

Another Apple suit, which the company filed in February, contends that all eight of the patents it is asserting are being infringed by features related to Android. They include features found in Android versions of popular Google apps like YouTube, Google Maps and Gmail as well as Google’s Quick Search Box that lets users search multiple types of data at the same time.

As part of the case, Apple has sought to stop sales of the Galaxy Nexus phone, which Google developed with Samsung. In addition to sales through wireless carriers, Google sells the phone directly through an online store, taking a small cut of the sales.

Tim Cook, boss of Apple, and Larry Page, chief executive of Google, are said to have had “at least one conversation” about the patent battles that are costing both companies hundreds of millions of pounds.

The sources said that Mr Cook and Mr Page had discussed a range of intellectual property matters and could be considering a truce over basic features and functions on Google’s Android software, according to Reuters tonight.

The problem would seem to be that their interests are so diametrically opposed that what could they agree upon?

A claim that Apple’s win over Samsung is the beginning of the end for the company. Apple that is: the complacency engendered by legal protection will kill it.

And finally, no, Samsung has not paid the fine to Apple in nickels. There probably aren’t enough nickels in circulation, it would weigh far too much and anyway, it’s only the Government that has to take bills paid in coins.

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How do you reach the conclusion that Apple’s court victory against Samsung will lead to complacency on the part of Apple. As far as I can tell, Apple is continuing to innovate and is slated to bring out new products this fall and beyond. Do you really think that Apple’s pipeline of projects disappeared because Apple triumphed on its patent claims?

Just report the fact. You’re speculation, without any evidence, is merely uninformed personal opinion. Just because you write in Forbes, doesn’t mean your opinions are worthy of merit. In fact, a journalist should stay out of the uninformed speculation business. It merely denigrates the Forbes brand.

Try reading it again. I do not reach that conclusion. I link to someone else who does make that conclusion. And I say that this someone else is making that claim.

“You’re speculation, without any evidence, is merely uninformed personal opinion. Just because you write in Forbes, doesn’t mean your opinions are worthy of merit. In fact, a journalist should stay out of the uninformed speculation business. It merely denigrates the Forbes brand.”

This section of the Forbes site is what is known as a “blog”. This is not journalism being commited here. This is my personal opinion on whatever I wish to share my personal opinion on. This is the whole point of this section.

How do you reach the conclusion that Apple’s court victory against Samsung will lead to complacency on the part of Apple? As far as I can tell, Apple is continuing to innovate and is slated to bring out new products this fall and beyond. Do you really think that Apple’s pipeline of projects disappeared because Apple triumphed on its patent claims?

Just report the facts. You’re speculation, without any evidence, is merely uninformed personal opinion. Just because you write in Forbes, doesn’t mean your opinions are worthy of merit. In fact, a journalist should stay out of the uninformed speculation business. It denigrates the Forbes brand.

i have to love the american press, apple wins its lawsuit and they are stopping innovation, samsung wins in japan and the courts arent caving to apples demands. fact is whether we like it or not, patents have been issued and patents have been infringed. thats the story, not that samsung feels they cant innovate without stealing or paying royalties.

If you are going to pretend to be a journalist – at least pretend like you’ve looked into your subject matter. The subject IP of the Japanese and U.S. suits were not the same. To suggest a home court advantage without knowledge of the litigated subject matter more than suggests the worth of your article. Forbes is increasingly using contributors that contribute nothing beyond their attempt to be controversial. Malcolm, what are they doing to your magazine.

I love it how when Apple wins one of its many patent/IP based lawsuits in US court, all of its fan boys rejoice and party in the streets claiming it a win for Apple, protection of innovative patents/ IP, and a clear message that copying is not tolerated. And yet, when Samsung wins a similar patent/IP based lawsuit against Apple in a foreign court, it’s ‘not the same’, ‘clearly different issues’, “corrupt court systems’, and that writers who share their personal opinions/thoughts on the subject are ‘uneducated and know nothing about patent law or IP’ or worst are painted to be in Googles pocket book. I guess what I find very funny is that the landmark case that all Apple fandom now stands behind is based on the ‘opinions’ of laymen tech users with zero understanding of patent law or IP and yet that was ok. A true win for justice and a clear message that Apple is and always will be the only mobile phone and OS standard, and everything else is nothing more than a cheap knockoff and should pay Apple for the privilege of their tech existence. The fact is when legal experts on patent law and IP have taken on Apples claims; they have shot them down time and time again. The difference in rulings are if nothing else, interesting.